Bannertail 



of body, but quick to move, quick to fol- 

 low, and nervously quick to obey, she grew 

 and learned the learning of her folk. 



Last was Cray, quickest of them all, 

 not so heavy as Brownhead, yet agile, in- 

 quisitive, full of energy, but a rebel all 

 the time. He would climb that long, 

 smooth column above the nest. His 

 mother's warning held him not. And 

 when the clawhold failed he slipped, but 

 jumped and landed safe on a near limb. 



He would go forth to investigate the 

 loud trampling in the woods, and far be- 

 low him watched with eager curiosity the 

 big, two-legged thing that soon discovered 

 him. Then there was a loud crack like a 

 heavy limb broken by the wind, and the 

 bark beside his head was splintered by a 

 blow that almost stunned him with its 

 shock, although it did not touch him. 

 He barely escaped into the nest. Yes, he 

 still escaped. 



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